Land mines removal strategy approved by the Cabinet

Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid approved a plan for removing land mines planted under the Egyptian soil since World War II. Ahmed El-Darsh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, made a statement, in this regard, during a meeting with a visiting Abu Dhabi television delegation.

Darsh, who heads a national committee supervising the removal of mines, explained to the delegation the exorbitant cost involved, in terms of human casualties and lost revenues which otherwise could have been made from affected areas.

A sum of $ 250 million is needed to remove mines planted in Egypt, Darsh said, citing a UN fact-finding mission's estimates. The cost of developing affected areas after clearing operations must also be taken into account, he added.

Over the past 55 years Egypt has been deprived of the opportunity to exploit natural resources in view of the deadly presence of the planted war devices, Darsh said, adding that Egyptian economy suffered as a consequence.

The national committee has appealed to Egypt's development partners to expedite the offering of assistance needed to solve the mines problem, especially in the western desert, by far the worst affected region that happens to be the richest in natural resources, Darsh said.

Egypt is also seeking to determine the legal responsibility of world countries, which had planted mines in the country, and get them to comply morally and financially with such responsibility, Darsh added.